Almost Every Stewart’s in Upstate NY Has These Relics But Not For Long!

If you run into any Stewart's Shop in the Capital Region, you will see that they have a piece of history in every store. They are usually off to the side and unassuming but they still work. By the end of 2023, they will no longer be available.

These Relics Are in Most Stewart's Shops

Almost every Stewart's Shop in Upstate New York has a pay phone tucked to the side on a wall. It's unbelievable but every Stewart's I have been in has had a pay phone and it actually still works.

Why Are There Still Pay Phones in Stewart's Shops?

Sure back in the day, the only way to communicate before cell phones was to use a pay phone if you needed to get a hold of someone to pick you up. You would think they were inside Stewart's so that customers could call for a ride or if their cell phones died but it is actually for the stores to communicate.

Chad Kiesow who is Stewart's Vice President of Facilities said that store employees use them between stores and corporate. It is considered a mainline for orders according to the Daily Gazette.

The More Stewart's Remodels The Less Likely For You to Find One

It is safe to say that all Stewart's Shops will be pay phone free by the end of 2023. As they continue to remodel and build new stores, the pay phone isn't part of the plans. They plan on adding landlines to the register areas in the new stores for staff to use instead.